บท 25: Extra: His First Name - Part 1

Kana's POV

"Aiyaa!!" The bite that I took from the hot bean bun in my hand burned the roof of my mouth.

I sighed as a gentle wind tugged upon the loose strands of my hair. I was sitting on a park bench, eating some hot bean buns I just bought from the vendor nearby. My wandering gazes followed some kids who were playing in the sandbox in front of me.

Kids are so lucky. They are enjoying their childhood playing around and no one expects anything from them. Just a period of tension free life. I know that every adult must've thought of reverting to being a kid once in their lifetime.

The thing isn't that kids are happy; the thing is that adults are sad because as we grow up, our needs grow with us too. So adults are never satisfied with what they have, instead we want more.

I put the remaining piece of bun in my mouth and stood up. I checked my phone and headed towards the convenience store.

The roads near this area of the city are always crowded on weekends.

Talking about weekends, I remembered that last weekend I went shopping with this boy who invaded my friend's circle. At first I thought he was weird and completely out of place, but after talking to him for sometime I realised he was indeed weird. But somehow, conversations with him always seemed interesting.

Sakamaki was weird, but he was a rather comfortable person to be around. That's why I found it easier to talk with him. He wasn't judgemental or I would say that he didn't really care about anyone in particular. He was hard to read because his vibes were neither good nor bad.

The day I noticed him up close was when he walked home with him. His gazes are cold and it always feels like he was observing us, but maybe I'm overthinking this.

But I can't deny the fact I became friends with him pretty quickly. He even calls me by my first name, but I never had the courage to call him by his first name. More like I would feel awkward to call him by his first name.

Wait, do I even know his first name?

Did he even tell me his first name?

…

I don't know his first name. Even though we have been friends for about two weeks now. Why am I an idiot!?

Well, I will ask him about his first name.

NO.

He will think I'm dumb. What if he thinks I'm ignorant?

I was deep in thoughts that I didn't realise where I was heading to and slammed myself into the coffee house sign board.

It knocked the air out of me, and some people looked at me in concern. I smiled and brushed it off, albeit I was dying from embarrassment inside. I hope no one from my school witnessed this incident. I'll make sure I never visit this coffee house ever again.

Knowing his first name was the next thing on my to-do list.

Next day, I was talking with Saki as I assumed that asking her would be the best choice. She wouldn't make any weird assumptions about me and him, even if I asked her about this. The major thing is that I don't Sakamaki to know about this and think I'm dumb.

"Hey you know Sakamaki-kun for a long time right?"

"Yeah, why do you ask this suddenly?" Saki looked at me in curiosity.

"Hmm… interesting, then you must know a lot about him?"

"I… I do, but wh… why are you asking this out of the blue?" She was flustered, as I asked her this question. Oh god, can she be any more obvious than this?

"Ahh, nothing in particular. Was just curious." I gave her an awkward smile. I guess going right to the point will be suspicious even if it's the air-head Saki in front of me.

Well, I'll just try to indirectly make her say his name.

"So, did you two know each other even before high school?"

She nodded her head from left to right and said, "No, it was in highschool only. That too because we were in the same group project."

"He was never a people's person, right?"

"Yeah" She chuckled.

"Saki-san, I have noticed one thing. You never call him by his first name, although you two know each other for so long. Why is that?"

"No… it's that… umm… how should I put this?"

"What?" I tried to put pressure on her.

"Well, we don't know each other that well to be honest." She sighed.

"Well, you rarely call me by first name even though we have been friends for so long."

"Hey, that's… wait, that's actually true."

"See." I shrugged. "Call me by my first name." I added.

"It's not that easy that you'll just say it and I'll do it." She chuckled.

"It's really simple. Just two syllables. Ka-Na. Come on, spell it."

"Hehe… not right now." She was awkward about it.

"Ahh... I see." I gave her an awkward smile even though from inside, I had a big smile of dissatisfaction on my face.

What should I do? The topic is straying further from what I expected it to be.

Shit!

"Hello, what are you guys talking about?" I heard Sakamaki's voice.

"No... it's… uhhh... nothing. Girl's talk."

"Hmm, I see." He nodded and then looked at Saki. As if he was expecting a proper answer from her.

"Ah, don't worry… she was talking about…"

"No. it's nothing. It's nothing I'm telling you." I shouldn't act like this. It's making me more suspicious. But it's too late to turn back now. Knowing him, he will instantly get an idea of what I'm doing.

"Well… Tomose-san, come with me for a moment."

"Ehh..? Why though?" Saki was an airhead. Of course he wants to spend some time alone with you. Get a hint already.

"I have something interesting to tell you." He said and looked at Saki. It looked like he was waiting for a specific reaction from her but when he didn't get it he continued, "You know the thing we talked about last night over text?"

I looked at Saki and it seemed like the words made something spark inside her as she smiled and left with him while waving at me. I wonder what they might be talking about. Now that Saki was out of options, I had only one person who could help me out.